Ask Dr. Anna: The dangers of having outside cats

“It’s cruel to keep kitty trapped inside. They need to go out and hunt!”

“My cat goes crazy if I try and keep him inside. He totally destroys the house!”

“My cat stays in my yard.” “My cat has his claws; he can defend himself.”

These are just a few of the reasons we hear every day as to why people let their cats go or live outside. But the fact of the matter is, by letting your cat out you are in effect shortening its lifespan. On average, cats that go or live outside have shorter lives than inside cats by as much as ten years. Cats that are allowed to roam often don’t live to see their fifth birthday. Cats that are kept inside average a lifespan of around 15 years.